Monterey County Office of Education Early Learning Program
Monterey County Office of Education, 901 Blanco Cir, Salinas, CA 93901
About
The Monterey County Office of Education Early Learning Program offers early childhood education and comprehensive child and family services. The program works in partnership with the community and honors and reflects the cultural and linguistic diversity of the community.
• Ages: 3–5 years old
The Monterey County Office of Education Early Learning Program serves 732 children ages 3–5 years of age each year in partnership with the Alisal Union, Salinas Union, Santa Rita Union, Pajaro Valley/Hall, North Monterey County, Chualar, Gonzales Unified, Greenfield Unified, and King City Unified school districts. The program’s mission states that it is dedicated to providing the highest quality early childhood education for children 3–5 years and comprehensive child and family services, in partnership with the community. The program sees the cultural and linguistic diversity of the community as a strength to be respected and celebrated and is committed to promoting healthy eating and lifestyle principles throughout its programs. It is recognized in its vision as a leader in research-based early childhood education and family development and strives to deliver high quality, comprehensive, seamless services based on community needs, including ongoing assessment of those needs to guide planning and decision making. The program believes parents are the primary educators of their children and a valuable asset for program quality control and continuous improvement, and the Monterey County Head Start Program has support and dedication from schools, community partners, parents, friends, and service providers.
The federal Head Start Program was launched in the summer of 1965, and in that year the Monterey County Board of Supervisors was awarded funding to start a summer program in Castroville serving approximately 100 children and families. Seven years later, in 1972, the Monterey County Office of Education became the Head Start grantee serving 300 children countywide. From 1965 to 2009, Monterey County Head Start slots increased from 100 children and families to 1,245, and during over forty years of service, the Monterey County Head Start Program reached and educated over 30,000 children and families. In 2001, the Monterey County Office of Education was awarded the Early Head Start Program contract to offer services to 80 children and families from prenatal to three years of age. In 2018, the California Department of Education granted the Early Learning Program the opportunity to receive State funding to serve children, and in 2019 the Early Learning Program received another award to expand services for part time and full time care for children with a higher income than Head Start's guidelines.
The Early Learning Program has a board of one as its Governing Body because the Superintendent of Schools is an elected official. The Early Learning Policy Council membership is comprised of 51% parents of currently enrolled children, and Policy Council membership is inclusive of community representatives. The Policy Council meets monthly to discuss program business and make key decisions that affect the program's quality and success. The Superintendent of Schools, elected Policy Council members, the Early Learning Senior Program Director, and management staff jointly plan and decide on annual budgets, program planning, operations, personnel, policies and procedures, data reports, and service areas. Policy Council and Governing Body members are provided with the opportunity to participate in ongoing training and to attend local and national conferences that enhance their Head Start knowledge and leadership skills.
The leadership team includes Dr. Deneen Guss, County Superintendent of Schools; Esmeralda Gomar, Chairperson (Policy Council); Angelica Romo, Vice-Chairperson (Policy Council); Deisy Rentana-Garcia, Secretary (Policy Council); and Gustavo Pat, a Policy Council member with a title that was truncated in the source. The program also lists an Early Learning Senior Program Director and the Monterey County Office of Education Superintendent of Schools by title.
Last updated April 4, 2026.
• Ages: 3–5 years old
The Monterey County Office of Education Early Learning Program serves 732 children ages 3–5 years of age each year in partnership with the Alisal Union, Salinas Union, Santa Rita Union, Pajaro Valley/Hall, North Monterey County, Chualar, Gonzales Unified, Greenfield Unified, and King City Unified school districts. The program’s mission states that it is dedicated to providing the highest quality early childhood education for children 3–5 years and comprehensive child and family services, in partnership with the community. The program sees the cultural and linguistic diversity of the community as a strength to be respected and celebrated and is committed to promoting healthy eating and lifestyle principles throughout its programs. It is recognized in its vision as a leader in research-based early childhood education and family development and strives to deliver high quality, comprehensive, seamless services based on community needs, including ongoing assessment of those needs to guide planning and decision making. The program believes parents are the primary educators of their children and a valuable asset for program quality control and continuous improvement, and the Monterey County Head Start Program has support and dedication from schools, community partners, parents, friends, and service providers.
The federal Head Start Program was launched in the summer of 1965, and in that year the Monterey County Board of Supervisors was awarded funding to start a summer program in Castroville serving approximately 100 children and families. Seven years later, in 1972, the Monterey County Office of Education became the Head Start grantee serving 300 children countywide. From 1965 to 2009, Monterey County Head Start slots increased from 100 children and families to 1,245, and during over forty years of service, the Monterey County Head Start Program reached and educated over 30,000 children and families. In 2001, the Monterey County Office of Education was awarded the Early Head Start Program contract to offer services to 80 children and families from prenatal to three years of age. In 2018, the California Department of Education granted the Early Learning Program the opportunity to receive State funding to serve children, and in 2019 the Early Learning Program received another award to expand services for part time and full time care for children with a higher income than Head Start's guidelines.
The Early Learning Program has a board of one as its Governing Body because the Superintendent of Schools is an elected official. The Early Learning Policy Council membership is comprised of 51% parents of currently enrolled children, and Policy Council membership is inclusive of community representatives. The Policy Council meets monthly to discuss program business and make key decisions that affect the program's quality and success. The Superintendent of Schools, elected Policy Council members, the Early Learning Senior Program Director, and management staff jointly plan and decide on annual budgets, program planning, operations, personnel, policies and procedures, data reports, and service areas. Policy Council and Governing Body members are provided with the opportunity to participate in ongoing training and to attend local and national conferences that enhance their Head Start knowledge and leadership skills.
The leadership team includes Dr. Deneen Guss, County Superintendent of Schools; Esmeralda Gomar, Chairperson (Policy Council); Angelica Romo, Vice-Chairperson (Policy Council); Deisy Rentana-Garcia, Secretary (Policy Council); and Gustavo Pat, a Policy Council member with a title that was truncated in the source. The program also lists an Early Learning Senior Program Director and the Monterey County Office of Education Superintendent of Schools by title.
Last updated April 4, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.